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Ja Morant Traded to Portland for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray

6/30/2026

Summary

Morant Traded

2026-06-09: Ja Morant sent to Portland for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray — $42.167 million (2026-27) and $44.887 million (2027-28).
Morant played 20 games, averaged 19.5, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds before a UCL sprain ended season.
Grant posted 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, $36 million option.
Murray had 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds in 57 games, free-agent $5.3 million.
He served eight-game and 25-game firearm suspensions in 2023 and a one-game suspension in November 2025, costing $9 million.

Summary

Grizzlies Rebuild

The Memphis Grizzlies completed the Ja Morant trade 24 hours before the NBA free-agency period began.
The team entered the offseason with 19 players on standard contracts, exceeding the 15-player limit and forcing additional roster cuts.
Memphis announced a rebuild built around No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer, along with Zach Edey and Cedric Coward.
Because no draft picks were received, the roster will rely on veteran Jerami Grant and rookie Kris Murray.

History

Historical Context

In summer 2007, Celtics GM Danny Ainge acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, joining Paul Pierce to create a new “Big Three.” The trio sparked a 66-16 season—under coach Doc Rivers—the NBA’s biggest 42-game turnaround—leading to the 2008 title and echoing the franchise’s 2003 ownership-driven rebuild that recalled the dominant squads of the 1960s.

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Morant Traded

2026-06-09: Ja Morant sent to Portland for Jerami Grant, Kris Murray — $42.167 million (2026-27) and $44.887 million (2027-28).
Morant played 20 games, averaged 19.5, 8.1 assists and 3.3 rebounds before a UCL sprain ended season.
Grant posted 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, $36 million option.
Murray had 5.8 points, 3.6 rebounds in 57 games, free-agent $5.3 million.
He served eight-game and 25-game firearm suspensions in 2023 and a one-game suspension in November 2025, costing $9 million.

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